spinoff thread: personal stories of union good

(Posted on 12/12/12 at 8:43 am)

Michigan union experience thread got me thinking. Let's get some personal stories of something specific that a union did, or you witnessed a union do or cause that was good, helpful, or increased productivity.

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 9:03 am to TigerFanatic99)

There are some, and this is coming from a company that has a union contract

1) when we need another plumber/pipefitter/welder we call in a work order to the hall asking for one. Then then send one within 48 hrs. If they can't then we can hire anyone "off the street" we want. otherwise we would have to put an add in the paper and interview to get more man power

2) because we have a union contract we can hire from a pool of skilled labor as our work goes up and down, and we know they are licensed and certified, and what additional licenses they have above and beyond

3) the union we deal with negotiates a total package that they get paid. They then decide how that money gets divided (on the check/ pension/ health care, ect) If their health care goes up they then take money from the guys checks to cover the difference. If the pension needs more money they have to take money off the check. So as the employer, we don't have to worry about that.

4) the union guys have their own training program, that gets audited, and is funded out of the guys total package and their dues. If we wee to hire an apprentice and not send him to the union we would have to send them to an ABC school

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 9:32 am to TigerFanatic99)

Many moons ago , corporations would collude and drive down wages. Sometimes they monopolized all employment opportunities in a city. This happened in the 20s in Chicago. Read "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. Laws enabling unions were enacted to combat this behavior. For the most part they were good.

As far as recent good......not so much. They essentially drive jobs overseas (or to states with right to work laws). The global economy pretty much changed everything.

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 9:37 am to a want)

quote:Many moons ago , corporations would collude and drive down wages. Sometimes they monopolized all employment opportunities in a city. This happened in the 20s in Chicago. Read "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. Laws enabling unions were enacted to combat this behavior. For the most part they were good.

As far as recent good......not so much. They essentially drive jobs overseas (or to states with right to work laws). The global economy pretty much changed everything.

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 11:49 am to tigeraddict)

quote:1) when we need another plumber/pipefitter/welder we call in a work order to the hall asking for one. Then then send one within 48 hrs. If they can't then we can hire anyone "off the street" we want. otherwise we would have to put an add in the paper and interview to get more man power

That's a positive? If the private industry needs another plumber/pipefitter/welder, you call the company to send you one and he is there that day. No red tape.

quote:2) because we have a union contract we can hire from a pool of skilled labor as our work goes up and down, and we know they are licensed and certified, and what additional licenses they have above and beyond

In private, you can call up a company and ask for their license, and hire that skilled worker for less than a union wage. And we don't get stuck with union bureaucracy.

quote:3) the union we deal with negotiates a total package that they get paid. They then decide how that money gets divided (on the check/ pension/ health care, ect) If their health care goes up they then take money from the guys checks to cover the difference. If the pension needs more money they have to take money off the check. So as the employer, we don't have to worry about that.

Government takes these out automatically. ARe you saying the union takes out money and the government takes out money too? You are getting double penalized?

quote:4) the union guys have their own training program, that gets audited, and is funded out of the guys total package and their dues. If we wee to hire an apprentice and not send him to the union we would have to send them to an ABC school

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 12:32 pm to BugAC)

Unions are at their best when they are fighting for minimum workplace standards that all workers should have. This is mostly true for safety issues. They are at their worst when dealing with wage and benefit issues. That is because by their nature they deal as a collective. That leaves little room (though some) for meritocracy.

Example: All mine workers should have access to good safety gear, not just the most productive. However the most productive should get better raises and promotions.

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 12:49 pm to a want)

quote:Many moons ago , corporations would collude and drive down wages. Sometimes they monopolized all employment opportunities in a city. This happened in the 20s in Chicago. Read "The Jungle" by Upton Sinclair. Laws enabling unions were enacted to combat this behavior. For the most part they were good.

Just reviewed this last night with my son for his US History class. I have a relative that works at a union site, he was making rounds and they called him to check out a problem with a control valve (all this at the Maintenance knockoff time). He found the air tubing to the valve had come off, so he just put it back on. An instrument tech saw and filed a grievance. I guess it's better to let the plant crash than take a second to fix the problem. Glad we're non-union.

re: spinoff thread: personal stories of union good (Posted on 12/12/12 at 2:06 pm to LeClerc)

They were vital in many if the safety reforms w have today. They trained me extremely well through their apprenticeship program. My father went through the carpenters apprenticeship and he was a true master carpenter. Back when the union was stronger and doing what it was designed to do it was good for everyone. They used to be able to police their own local and come down on someone for shite work. You could call the "hall" and trust you are getting skilled labor.

Coming from an apprentice program after college and the construction really gave me a want to do solid and quality work. During construction days i can say no one Gave a shite about the work and many didn't sHow up 30% of the time. I fell into that group street a while. Very unreliable. It has its people who are crap here as every group has, but if the company really wants them gone they are and the union can't protect them.

I disagree with much of their politics and have questioned a lot myself. I defended my voting for Ron Paul many times out here. I don't believe in voting lock step just because of the union. I've questioned due costs as well. I'm very vocal and some are irritated by me, oh well.

To say there is no good is a bit of a stretch. I can only speak from my experience though.